Bill, this is exactly why the NFHS rule is that they only have to match each other, and do not have to match the color of the shorts. As you note, FIFA is different.
In last night's Galaxy vs Red Bulls game, several Galaxy players had black undershorts showing below their medium-blue uniform shorts. Here's a photo that's currently on the Galaxy home page:
Doesn't that change next year? By the way, if I ever bring this issue up on the field of play, someone hit me over the head with this baseball bat. Thanks.
In England last season, during our pre-match checks as the teams walk out of the changing rooms, we would check boots, then jewellery and then undershorts. I've never specifically asked players to pull their shorts up to reveal their undershorts, but players got used to being asked and did it naturally. This season, apparently we're no longer allowed to ask players to lift their shorts. This shouldn't be an issue, as managers are told before every game when they come into the referee's room with the team sheets that players must remove all jewellery and that their under garments must be the same colour as their kits. If they then choose to ignore this, then that's their problem, and they'll be playing with fewer players until it's sorted. Now this used to be able to be done before the game kicked off, but with this new instruction, unless you can spot the undergarments before the game visually (such as when you're out warming up, or as they're coming out of the changing room), then they'll have to go off when you do spot it during a game. No idea what happened in this game, but I imagine it's what was mentioned earlier where things snowballed after players were made to leave the FOP for wrong undergarments, a team scored during this time, and rather than blaming their players/management for not following guidance that has been enforced for 3 seasons now, they chose to blame the referee.
US Open Cup Final..Osvaldo Alonso had white not yellow: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wo7UtFUzr8"]2011 U.S. Open Cup Final: Osvaldo Alonso Goal - Oct. 4, 2011 - YouTube[/ame] guess this issue isn't as big of a deal on this side of the pond?
I seriously don't think adidas makes those shorts in anything other than white and black right now. That's the only supplier option an MLS player has unless another company is paying him to wear another brand.
No, there is no change next year or in any future year, unless the rules committee decides to discuss it, which I think is unlikely.
Leaving the idiocy of the undershort color aside....I have a couple of questions: 1. Do they really mean that undershort color have to match dominant color of pants even if they aren't visible? I can imagine the furor to be caused in a girls game where the male referee crew requests to see the color of the undergarments! 2. Does the application of Law 18 to this situation allow for referee to request that player hike up the slider shorts so that they are essentially under the player's shorts? Outta sight outta mind. This one just seems one more of those situations where the refs end up placing boulders on the shoulders!
As I recall, I saw several different colors of sport bras when the USWNT wore their white strip at the WWC. I did a match where the team wore a similar white uniform and the same thing happened. The girls had obviously had it happen before, but you could certainly tell what colors their undergarments were; and everyone knew who was wearing a thong She must have been new. Does that mean that if one player wears them, every player has to wear them. I've heard referees say that, too.
No. Rule 4-1-1e "If visible apparel is worn under the jersey and/or shorts, it shall be of a similar length, all alike and of a solid color." So anyone on the team who is wearing visible undergarments has to wear similar stuff of the same solid color. Anyone who chooses not to wear them doesn't have to worry. And, note the use of the word "visible." So if you can't see it while they are standing in a normal position, don't go trying to inspect for it.
I noticed the same thing when watching highlights of Seattle and Philly. Several Sounders players were wearing white compression shorts under there Rave green uni shorts.
I'd imagine MLS just requires the shorts of all players match underneath. Again, I'd be shocked if adidas made these shorts in anything but white and black. I haven't found them anywhere in anything but those shades and I've looked all over.
Perhaps, but I haven't seen them. I would not be surprised if red and royal are options they provide to Chelsea and Liverpool, for instance, but I haven't been able to find them for sale. If you know where you can find them, let me know.